What could go wrong?

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Sept 16 (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday he would demand full membership of the United Nations when he goes to the U.N. General Assembly next week, setting up a diplomatic clash with Israel and the United States.

“We are going to the United Nations to request our legitimate right, obtaining full membership for Palestine in this organisation,” Abbas said in a televised speech.

“We are going to the Security Council,” he added, to rapturous applause from his audience of Palestinian leaders. “As for other options, we have not yet taken a decision on them,” he said.

All of which is nothing more than a stunt.

Membership must be approved by the Security Council, and the United States has veto power on the council. The Obama Administration has already threatened to veto if Palestine should make such a move, and the administration has support from both Democrats and Republicans in that decision. In fact, politically the administration can’t afford not to veto. And Palestine knows as much.

The Palestinian coalition government consists of organizations recognized internationally as terroristic, and members not only endorse but even carry out attacks against Israel. Palestine also serves as a welcome home for terrorist elements dedicated to the destruction of both Israel and the United States. Palestinians themselves tend to justify suicide attacks and despise the west.

Until that changes, the United States should oppose statehood. We don’t need another sovereign state engaging in terrorism, dedicated to the destruction of its neighbor, and destabilizing an already-unstable region. Statehood should be a reward for changes in attitude and behavior. We should and must exercise veto power until then.